Good progress with the first underground mine has Millennium Minerals looking at an early production start and the potential for more underground developments at its Nullagine gold project in Western Australia.

A 60% increase in ore reserves at its Mt Weld rare earths mine in Western Australia keeps special materials company Lynas Corporation on target to retain its position as a leading non-Chinese supplier to the specialty materials market. John Feary reports

Just weeks after achieving first production from its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia, Pilbara Minerals has outlined more expansive plans to meet the growing demand for lithium raw materials in north Asia and further afield.

KAZ Minerals is betting its experience of developing large-scale, low-cost mines in Kazakhstan can be transferred to a likely $US5.5B capital project in the remote Chukotka region of far eastern Russia with its acquisition of the Baimskaya copper project.

GME Resources plans more engagement with potential strategic partners and offtake parties after completing a prefeasibity study on its proposed $US966M development of its NiWest nickel-cobalt project in Western Australia.

Red 5 says it's on-track to become a 100,000ozpa Australian gold producer in the coming 12 months after posting a 133% increase in ore reserves at its Darlot and King of the Hills projects in WA. John Feary reports

The Philippines government has finally given approval for Red 5 to construct new tailings facilities at its Siana gold mine, but the Duterte administration's anti-mining rhetoric remains a strong deterrent to reopening the mothballed project.

Beadell Resources has reduced FY2018 gold production guidance by 13% as it juggles the disruptions of a change of mining and project management operators and delays in completing a plant upgrade at its Tucano gold mine in Brazil.

Talks with the West Australian government over the formula for calculating state royalties hold hopes for BCI Minerals of smoothing the volatility of earnings from the Mineral Resources-operated Iron Valley mine. John Feary reports